A MAN appeared in court yesterday accused of murdering a mum whose body was never found.

Martin Stafford, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody at Birmingham Magistrates' Court accused of killing Michelle Gunshon, who disappeared while staying at a pub in the city.

The 43-year-old man accused of murdering the London mother of three in 2004 had been extradited from the Republic of Ireland.

Stafford, who will now appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, was brought to Britain from the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.

In a statement released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Anamarie Coomansingh, of the CPS's complex casework unit, said: "Following the disappearance of Michelle Gunshon in December 2004, West Midlands Police conducted a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case.

"Having reviewed the full file of evidence, I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Martin Stafford for the murder of Michelle Gunshon on December 5 2004.

"Extradition proceedings were then commenced, which were successful in bringing Mr Stafford back from the Republic of Ireland.

"He appeared before Birmingham Magistrates' Court this morning and he has been remanded in custody."

Ms Gunshon, then aged 38 and living in Mill Hill, north London, vanished after travelling to Birmingham to work as a security guard during a fashion event at the city's National Exhibition Centre.

Despite extensive inquiries by West Midlands Police, Ms Gunshon has never been found and her disappearance is being treated as a murder inquiry.